Industry insiders have informed CNBC that US technology companies are intensifying their lobbying efforts targeting government officials. Technology sector assets in the Middle East have become military targets, with analysts predicting potential shortages of critical materials required for artificial intelligence infrastructure development. A White House spokesperson told CNBC that the administration is working "closely" with industry leaders to mitigate the impact of the conflict.

Influenced by the Iran conflict, US tech firms are increasing their lobbying efforts directed at US domestic and overseas government officials to protect their interests and formulate contingency plans, according to sources who spoke to CNBC. The Middle East conflict has thrown global commerce into disarray, causing oil prices to surge and severely disrupting supply chains. For the technology sector, regional assets being targeted militarily has led analysts to forecast shortages of key materials essential for building AI infrastructure. Sean Evans, a partner at strategic communications consultancy Kekst CNC, stated to CNBC, "US tech companies are actively engaging with US diplomats in the Middle East, relevant regional parties, as well as officials from the White House and the Department of Defense." He noted that tech giants, data center operators, and clients from the semiconductor industry are all increasing their lobbying activities, but declined to name specific companies due to confidentiality. He added that these companies currently face both physical and commercial risks. "Critical submarine cables, public sector cloud services, data centers, and corporate systems are deeply integrated into the economic entities and financial systems of the Gulf region. Any instability can quickly jeopardize contracts and ultimately affect revenue," Evans said. A White House spokesperson told CNBC that President Donald Trump has "consistently made clear that 'Operation Epic Rage' would bring temporary disruptions." The spokesperson also said the administration is "working closely with industry leaders not only to mitigate such disruptions but also to continuously lay the groundwork for America's long-term economic recovery."

Risks to Infrastructure and Markets As the Iran conflict escalates into a regional confrontation, technology companies have become direct targets of attacks. In March, following a drone strike on an Amazon Web Services data center in the UAE, numerous applications and digital services in the country experienced outages. In early April, Iran's Revolutionary Guard threatened to target US tech firms operating in the Middle East, including Nvidia, Apple, Microsoft, and Google. Secondary effects are also emerging. Helium exports, a crucial raw material for processes like chip manufacturing, have been significantly restricted due to the conflict. Experts warn that if the conflict persists, future data center and AI infrastructure projects in the region face considerable uncertainty. Mehdi Payavi, CEO of the US-based think tank International Data Center Authority (IDCA), told CNBC he understands tech firms are lobbying US officials to push for a ceasefire. "Tech companies are deeply concerned about this conflict because peace is a core prerequisite for building data centers, cloud services, and AI factories," he stated. Evans commented, "Fundamentally, these companies want the war to no longer pose a threat to infrastructure, markets, and systems." "They also want to ensure the safety of their employees," he added. "Companies require a stable operating environment. Tensions can exist, but a ceasefire, secret negotiations, or even a conflict freeze are preferable to ongoing uncertainty." Evans told CNBC that the current focus for tech companies has shifted away from traditional legislative lobbying topics towards a greater emphasis on their own risk exposure. "They are pushing the government to clearly deter attacks on commercial assets and are seeking firm commitments from the US and other governments to protect these assets," he added. "All parties are working hard to prevent the conflict from affecting critical infrastructure."